The health care industry accounts for one-sixth of the U.S. economy, making it the largest industrial sector in the United States.
Although Pittsburgh is popularly viewed as an old steel and manufacturing city, in recent years the healthcare industry has been particularly robust in the area. One of the region's largest employers, and a leader in medical science, The University of Pittsburgh employs more than 40,000 professionals including doctors, nurses, therapists, home health aides, and allied health care workers.
Overall, more than 79,000 people in Pittsburgh work in healthcare and healthcare support positions, and the industry is slated for tremendous growth over the next several years. Higher education and health care were the biggest creators of high wage jobs in the Pittsburgh region between the six years of 1999 and 2005.
Education & Training
Preparing future healthcare workers to meet patients' expectations for optimal care requires that a student learn in settings that epitomize the highest standards of medical practice.
Choosing a health care school in Pittsburgh is similar to choosing a school in any discipline. Location, credentials, and faculty quality should all be considered when selecting your school. You should also consider the following:
- Be sure to look for a manageable class size with a good ratio of students to teacher -- the more students, the less time a teacher has to spend with an individual if extra assistance is needed. In health care studies, one-one-one attention can be crucial to understanding essential concepts and duties.
- Research the instructor's credentials. Are they employed solely as educators, or do they teach part-time and have current hands-on experience in the field?
- Ask if faculty members are involved in industry research or scholarly publishing. The more involved they are with either of these aspects, the better the chance of being introduced to new concepts and plans for the future of the professions.
- Schools should have the ability to provide you with pre-arranged internships, or be able to assist you in finding ones for yourself.
- Ensure that classes (and clinicals in particular) will be taught in state-of-the-art facilities. With so many changes in technology, learning on equipment that is already several years out-of-date is a poor decision.
The health care field is growing by leaps and bounds. Don't let the school you choose leave you unprepared.
Featured Top Pittsburgh Schools for Nursing and Health Care
- DeVry University
Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics, Health Information Technology - Bradford School
Medical Assisting - Sanford Brown Institute - Monroeville
Massage Therapist, Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology - Sanford Brown Institute - Pittsburgh
Anesthesia Technologist, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant Specialist, Radiographer - Carlow University
Scientific and Medical Marketing - Chatham College, Health Care Studies
Health Care - Duquesne University, Rangos School of Health Sciences
Athletic Training, Health Management, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant - Pittsburgh Technical Institute
Medical Assisting, Medical Office, Medical Coding, Surgical Technology, Therapeutic Massage - University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine